China’s Shenzhen builds complete innovation chain to empower synthetic biology enterprises

By Cheng Yuanzhou, Sun Zhen, People’s Daily

In less than five years, Synceres Biosciences, a high-tech startup located in the Guangming Science City, a cluster of scientific and technological facilities in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province, has grown into a “rising star” valued at over 1 billion yuan ($137.95 million) in the synthetic biology industry.

It has developed from a company initially staffed with two or three employees to a high-tech pioneer drawing nearly 300 million yuan in funding and hiring nearly 200 employees, turning from a research-focused organization publishing papers in prestigious journals like Nature to a manufacturer that sells products globally.

This remarkable progress would not have been possible without the supportive innovation ecosystem fostered by the Guangming Science City.

Luo Xiaozhou, co-founder of Synceres Biosciences, showed People’s Daily reporters around at the Industrial Innovation Center for Engineering Biology (hereafter referred to as the “Innovation Center”), which was co-established by the People’s Government of Guangming District of Shenzhen and the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It helps build the Guangming Science City into a national synthetic biology industry hub, also where Luo’s company is located.

He explained that the Innovation Center enables startups not only to undertake basic research but also to commercialize their findings into actual products. Furthermore, he added, there is an industrialization park nearby where companies can scale up to mass production.

“A complete innovation chain is our greatest strength,” he told People’s Daily.

As a pilot zone for the comprehensive national science center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Guangming Science City aims to build itself into a source of original innovation in basic research and a test bed for efficient commercialization of technologies.

Based on major scientific and technological innovation facilities and institutions, the Guangming Science City has established engineering and technological innovation centers, and built a model of “fostering innovation upstairs and nurturing entrepreneurship downstairs” in the Innovation Center that serves enterprises from scientific research to industrial application.

On the first floor of the Innovation Center, the latest products developed by synthetic biology enterprises are exhibited, including Synceres Biosciences, Bontac Bio-engineering, and Cytorola Biomedical.

Luo Wei, a researcher with the Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology (iSynBio), a scientific research institute led by SIAT, told People’s Daily that researchers gather here for originalinnovations, striving to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields of the synthetic biology industry.

Besides, business incubators also cluster here for engineering development and pilot-scale commercialization of the original innovations, thus driving the industrial application of scientific and technological achievements, Luo Wei added.

“With researchers and companies working side-by-side, a single creative spark could ignite a new idea, and commercialization bottlenecks could be cleared, which greatly shortens the cycle for converting research into viable products,” said Luo Wei.

Luo Xiaozhou, apart from being a researcher at the iSynBio of SIAT, is also an entrepreneur at the Innovation Center. Through an equity investment model, the SIAT can transfer its research achievements to Synceres Biosciences. They have also established a joint lab, sharing research resources and talent to promote the deep integration of the innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains.

Last November, a major scientific and technological infrastructure for synthetic biology research was launched in the Guangming Science City, providing further momentum for enterprises here. The new products launched by Synceres Biosciences this year were exactly developed with its support.

To promote the development of the synthetic biology industry, the Guangming Science City has rolled out targeted policies, set up a special fund to support industry development, built specialized industrial parks, and established a relatively complete industrial ecosystem. Thanks to these efforts, the local synthetic biology industry has rapidly developed into a cluster of over 90 companies with a total value reaching 27 billion yuan in just a few years.

In the Guangming Science City, the development model of “fostering innovation upstairs and nurturing entrepreneurship downstairs” is being vigorously promoted, which is based on the 24 major scientific and technological innovation facilities and institutions established there, including a major scientific and technological infrastructure for brain analysis and brain simulation, a materials genome facility, and the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation. This model is evolving into various innovative ecosystems tailored to local conditions.

Leveraging the major scientific and technological infrastructure for brain analysis and simulation, a team led by researcher Wei Pengfei with the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute of SIAT has developed mature technologies in non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) devices. These technologies have been invested in Shenzhen Zhongkehuayi Technology Co., Ltd., or Neuroplus, which was initially set up at the Shenzhen Guangming Industrial Innovation Center for Brain Science and Technology.

“High-level scientific research and clinical research institutions, upstream and downstream enterprises, as well as professional investment and financing institutions are clustered here, forming an innovative brain science alliance. Researchers and entrepreneurs have become ‘next-door neighbors’, helping startups grow rapidly,” said Wei.

According to Wei, Neuroplus has “graduated” from the Shenzhen Guangming Industrial Innovation Center for Brain Science and Technology and moved to another brain science and brain-inspired intelligence industrial park.

So far, the SIAT has incubated 14 companies related to brain science with a total value exceeding 2.2 billion yuan.

“While driving the industrial application of technologies, Guangdong province has taken a forward-looking approach to developing biological manufacturing. We have established world-leading scientific and technological infrastructure for synthetic biology and created an innovative service platform for biological manufacturing. In the past three years, half of Chinese synthetic biology companies have settled in Guangdong,” said an official with the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

SCO strengthening youth development for better future

By Zhang Bolan, People’s Daily

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) carries forward the spirit of good-neighborliness, and advances equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations.

It calls for peaceful coexistence and harmonious development of different civilizations, and expands people-to-people and cultural cooperation. It has enhanced the popular support for state-to-state relations.

In recent years, the SCO has built sound platforms for youth exchanges to deepen mutual understanding among the younger generation and bring them closer together. The development of the SCO is highlighted by the constantly strengthened friendly exchanges among the youth of SCO member states.

Ilya Kryzhevich, a journalist with Belarus Today, has been reporting on the Chinese economy for nine years. He told People’s Daily that he goes to the Great Stone China-Belarus Industrial Park, a landmark Belt and Road cooperation project, for interviews almost every month.

“Drastic changes are taking place there. We sometimes joke that you’ll never enter the same China-Belarus Industrial Park twice,” Ilya Kryzhevich said.

He noted that young people in Belarus have benefited very much from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “Many innovative enterprises in the medical industry from China have entered the Belarusian market, providing immense job opportunities for young Belarusians. Besides, many young people in Belarus have established innovative sci-tech firms in the industrial park,” he added.

Connectivity is key to Belt and Road cooperation. Islom Okhunov, head of the Division for the Development of International Cooperation and Ratings of the Ministry of Youth Policy and Sports of Uzbekistan, said that the construction of the highway network among Central Asian countries has made constant progress thanks to the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt, turning Uzbekistan from a landlocked country to a land-linked one.

“This has connected my hometown to the sea and ports. I’m looking forward to the early operation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway,” he told People’s Daily.

From the release of the Declaration of the SCO Youth Council to the establishment of an SCO exchange base for young entrepreneurs, and from hosting the SCO Youth Campus to the solid progress made by the China-Russia Youth Entrepreneurship Incubator, the SCO is advancing youth development in an orderly manner.

Last year, an SCO forum on youth development was hosted at the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA), east China’s Shandong province, where youth representatives from SCO member states shared the experience and cases of youth development in their respective countries, renewing friendship and seeking for a better future through a collision of ideas.　

Nikolai Zhdanov, a youth representative from Russia, has been involved in the youth work of the SCO since 2020. He believes that youth development has become an increasingly important topic for SCO member states.

“Youth exchanges are vital for maintaining good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation among SCO member states. During this event, I had the opportunity to communicate with young people from countries such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and we agreed to launch many bilateral and multilateral youth exchange programs,” Zhdanov said.

“This is Geely, and that is BYD.” On a street in Qingdao, Taalaybek Dayirbekov, chairman of the Youth Public Council of Kyrgyzstan, effortlessly named the Chinese car brands as new energy vehicles (NEVs) passed by.

“In Bishkek, an increasing number of Chinese NEVs are running on the streets, which help alleviate air pollution and improve the urban environment. The BRI not only brings economic benefits but also improves the life quality for the people in partner countries,” Dayirbekov noted.

Jehangir Mushtaq, assistant director at the Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan, hopes that the youth exchanges and cooperation among SCO member states can enable young people to better participate in public policymaking, access quality and equitable education, and enhance digital skills.

“With over 800 million young people living in SCO member states, pursuing better youth development is crucial for the future of the organization,” Mushtaq said.

Shapkat Wushur, secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) Central Committee and vice president of the All-China Youth Federation said that the development of the SCO fully demonstrates the guiding role of the “Shanghai Spirit” and the cohesion of true multilateralism.

In response to development challenges, the world is expecting young people to take on responsibilities, thus making youth development more important, he added.

He called on countries to further build consensus, strengthen cooperation, innovate youth development concepts, working methods, and cooperation mechanisms, and jointly lead the international agenda for youth development, so as to foster new growth drivers for global development.

Asue Ighodalo: The True Edo Pikin with progressive vision

There is no gainsaying the fact that the emergence of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Edo State has sent chills down the spine of the opposition parties in the state ahead of the much-awaited 2024 gubernatorial election.

After several failed attempts by political rivals to find a point of criticism in his candidature for the exalted seat of governor of Edo State, Dr. Ighodalo has continued to shine as the true, most distinguished and illustrious son of the soil in whom all Edolites are well pleased. This explains why the entire state is queuing behind him as the best person to steer its affairs in the direction of sustainable development.

Dr. Ighodalo’s achievements and contributions to society speak for themselves. The ideals and culture of Edo State, where he hails from influenced him throughout his early years. Following his completion of elementary and secondary school in Edo State, Dr. Ighodalo attended the University of Ibadan to complete his studies before going overseas to further hone his abilities. Even though he travelled a lot, he never lost touch with his roots and was always involved in State issues. Dr. Ighodalo has a distinguished professional background in several fields, including law, finance, and entrepreneurship. As the CEO and creator of a prestigious investment company and a foremost Law firm, he has greatly boosted the Nigerian economy and given Nigerians a plethora of work prospects.

The charitable works of Dr. Ighodalo have had a lasting impression on Edo State. He believes that education and youth empowerment are essential to realising the state’s full potential. He has committed himself to fostering the next generation of gifted people through scholarship programmes, vocational training initiatives, and establishment of educational institutions in Edo State.

Despite what his detractors say, Dr. Ighodalo has always taken an active part in Edo State politics. As a respected member of the state’s leading political and sociocultural organisations, he has been a part of several forums such as Alaghodaro, Edo State Economic Team which have all birthed a prosperous future for Edo State.

Dr. Asue Ighodalo is making a strong impression as the candidate of the ruling and dominant political party as the next governor of Edo State. This he has done by showcasing his extensive background, love for the state, and successful track record. In addition, sustainable economic growth, better infrastructure, high-quality healthcare, and expanded educational opportunities for all residents are all part of his vision for Edo State. His goals put a high priority on developing the agricultural sector, creating jobs, and using Edo State’s wealth of natural resources to promote independence and draw in outside capital.

Political opponents of Dr. Asue Ighodalo may try to portray him as unfamiliar, but the reality is that he has proven strong ties within Edo State. His upbringing, education, career achievements, and strong political participation places him above others as a classic son of the state.

His emergence as the PDP’s candidate for governorship of Edo State in 2024 also indicates the party’s confidence in his capacity to steer the state towards development and prosperity. Edo State has more to look forward to under the direction of a seasoned leader with Dr. Ighodalo at the helm.

Asemota Amieghemwen
Edo South PDP Chieftain/ Coordinator EdoforAi
Benin city

ON THE ALLEGATION BY CHIDI ODINKALU THAT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT UNDER THE CHIEF JUDGE HAS BECOME LIKE PRIVATE BEDROOM OF WIKE

BY: SIMON CHUZU EGEDE, MON

In a recent post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, had insinuated that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court had become a tool in the hands of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the on-going political conflict with the latter’s successor, Governor Fubara of Rivers State.

The post by Prof. Odinkalu was in connection with the political crises in Rivers State generated by the 27 assembly member who defected to the All progressives’ Congress (APC), and the litigations which ensued from the actions of the lawmakers which have been widely reported by the media in recent times.

From the tone of the reported post, Prof. Odinkalu concluded that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court who sits in Abuja had pitched sides with Wike to determine the judicial outcomes of the cases instituted, and currently being heard by judges in Port Harcourt.

Perhaps, Professor Odinkalu is privy to some information he is unwilling to share with the public, who know that being the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court does not thereby amount to undertaking the judicial duties of each and every judge of the Federal High Court spread throughout the country.

It is common knowledge that every judge, including judges of the Federal High Court act independently in the discharge of his/her judicial office without recourse to the chief judge who is merely a primus inter pares in relation to his fellow judicial officers, and therefore lacks the powers to act as lord over them to guide or determine their decisions. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court only acts in his capacity as the administrative head of that court without being responsible for the day-to-day decisions of the individual judges.

In the case of Rivers State for instance, there is an administrative judge in charge of the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court who is responsible for the assignment of cases to judges in the division. Even the administrative judge is himself not responsible for the decisions of any judge in the division, as each act independently and is responsible for his decisions.

With regard to the insinuation of Prof Odinkalu that the Chief Judge has become a tool in the hands of Wike, one would think that such weighty allegations coming from such a respected member of the Bar should have been directed, with the attendant facts, to the appropriate judicial disciplinary body for investigation and sanction. Even if Prof Odinkalu’s has no faith in the disciplinary powers of the judiciary to mete out sanction in deserving cases, nothing stops him from placing the bare and hard facts at the disposal of the public for record purposes, and for the public to judge for itself.

It is disheartening that it has become the trend that judges have become the objects of attack from some persons, including Prof Odinkalu, who sadly ought to know that by virtue of the judicial office that they occupy, judges cannot join issues with individuals in defending themselves in the event of such attacks.

In any case, the view here is that such unfounded allegations by Prof. Odinkalu are unethical and could amount to professional misconduct.

The legal matters in which he is insinuating the bias of the Chief Judge are pending cases awaiting hearing and determination. By the principle of sub judice, it is prudent that Prof. Odinkalu should be very cautious in his statements on those live and sensitive matters without trying to colour the mind of the courts. If he had felt so strongly as to the bias of the Chief Judge or any judge for that matter, the avenue to vent his views is certainly not the social media without himself having not heard from both sides.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has never assigned or handled any of the cases involving the parties in Rivers State. Indeed, no such matters have been filed in the Abuja division of the Court, nor any ex parte order granted to support either of the parties, especially the so- called ‘pro – Wike faction.’

EGEDE, MON is the immediate past Solicitor General of Benue State and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Makurdi.

Youth Bureau Seeks More Empowerment, Inclusion Of Young People In Governance

A prominent youth group in Nigeria, Youth Bureau has urged governments at all levels to leverage the potential of the teeming population of young people in Nigeria to develop the country.

Youth Bureau’s Advisory Chairman, Razaq Olokoba made the call during the group’s inaugural conference held virtually on Tuesday with the theme: “Nigeria’s Democratic Future: Unlocking the Potentials of Youths”.

Olokoba in his remark said the importance of unlocking the potentials of young people cannot be overemphasized, adding that more integration of youths in leadership as well as other forms of empowerment will be beneficial for the society at large.

He maintained that including more young Nigerians in leadership and governance structure cannot be toiled with given the current population of young people and their untapped capabilities, urging the government to prioritize skills acquisition, and genuine empowerment programmes to address youth unemployment and foster national development.

Olokoba stressed that the time has come for the Federal Government and the 36 state governments to be intentional in developing the youths. Adding that “the essence of the Bureau is to find meeting point for older leaders to mentor the youth for their potentials to be fully utilized in all facets of national development, as well as getting the youths more involved in governance.

“We need to invest our time and efforts in Nigerian youths who are passionate about making an impact in their communities and whose contributions will paint a different picture of the country.

“I believe President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governor must align with the broader vision of nurturing untapped talents among Nigerian youths irrespective of region, gender, age, background, or literacy level,” He stressed.

Other speakers and participants during the conference drummed support for the government to take youth development more seriously as it has enormous potential to develop the nation’s democracy, economy, and social well-being, amongst others.

They averred that challenges to unlocking the potential include unemployment, underemployment, skill gap, political exclusion, and social inequality, urging the government to take urgent steps to bridge the existing gap.

Adding that unlocking the potential of Nigerian youths relies on connecting young people through involvement in mechanized agriculture, infrastructural development, mining, and leadership recruitment.

Northern Group Eulogize Dr. Emmanuel Musa, Recommends Him for National Honours

Concerned Northern Forum, a prominent civil society organisation (CSO), compromising over 73 CSOs across Northern Nigeria has eulogized the Founder and President of Enmamu Foundation, Dr. Emmanuel Musa for his philanthropy and humanitarian services.

In a widely covered press conference attended by both the print and electronic media giants in Nigeria at Protea Hotels Abuja, the spokesperson of the group, Comrade Abdulsalam Moh’d Kazeem praised Dr. Emmanuel for his tireless efforts in providing basic services such as water and shelter to victims of insecurity in his home town of Adamawa and elsewhere.

According to the spokesperson, “we are thrilled to identify with a young man who is so passionate about positively touching the lives of the less privileged around him. At just 34 the age, Dr. Emmanuel has demonstrated an astonishing and unprecedented generosity which has bettered people’s livelihoods as well as enhanced their welfare. He remains the only person of his age in Nigeria without political exposure who has impacted Nigerians this much.

“With hundreds of boreholes scattered across the North East and the provision of shelters for displaced persons as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, Dr. Musa has become a pillar of hope for widows, orphans, indigent students, youths and the aged. The ‘Humanitarian Dr.’ , as he fondly called recently donated roofing sheets, timber, cash and other relief materials to 50 victims of a rainstorm in Pella, Hong LGA of Adamawa State. Indeed, his exemplary life is worthy of emulation and commendation”.

While calling on other Nigerians to emulate the seasoned philanthropist, the Northern youths praised the courageous virtue of Dr. Emmanuel Musa who has taken it upon himself to improve the quality of education in his home state of Adamawa through scholarships and other educational interventions. The group however, appealed to him to extend his generosity to other states as they prayed God to bless and prosper him in all his endeavours.

“Just recently, Dr. Emmanuel Musa in his capacity as the Founder and President of Enmamu Foundation donated over ₦200 million to 200,000 Pupils under the Adamawa Pupils Welfare Scheme. This is highly commendable and we urge other Nigerians to borrow a leaf from this humanitarian who is sacrificing his personal earnings and making giant strides to improve the lives of others in a world marred by greed and self-centeredness.

“It is also our earnest prayer and hope that this great philanthropist will extend his generous hand of fellowship to other states and communities that are ravaged by insecurity, lack of basic services and the impact of natural disasters. We pray too that Almighty Allah should prosper him and give him the wisdom and resources to carry out his humanitarian services not just to the northern Nigeria but the whole country and Africa as a whole,” the statement added.

The group finally called on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of patriotic urgency, bestow on Dr. Emmanuel Musa a befitting national honour which will spur him and others to greater service to their communities.

“What Dr. Musa has done at such a young age needs to be encouraged. As a group representing the interest of Northern Nigerian youths, we are convinced that honouring Dr. Musa will encourage other Nigerians both young and old to also emulate him. We therefore, recommend him and appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately commence the process of not just honouring this philanthropist but also giving him a position of responsibility that will enable him reach out to more Nigerians”, the statement concluded.

AI industry sees prosperous future in China

By Wang Yunshan, People’s Daily

The application of rubber seal strips onto a car roof was accompanied by a captivating display of a huge robotic arm picking it up and rotating it mid-air. This interesting scene was unfolded at a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) flexible production line in a factory of China’s carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) in Baoding, north China’s Hebei province.

Thanks to the integration of 5G-A and artificial intelligence (AI), this efficient production line has slashed 60 hours of downtime per year, thus avoiding potential losses of over 800 million yuan ($110.36 million) that could have been incurred by delayed deliveries.

In recent years, China has made significant strides in AI development, marked by steady growth in industrial scale, robust infrastructure, and a rapid increase of innovative products.

“The vast application scenarios, huge market, and massive talent pool have laid a solid foundation for the vigorous development of China’s AI industry,” said Yu Youcheng, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence (CAAI).

According to Yu, a large number of new breakthroughs, technologies and applications are rapidly emerging across different application scenarios in China.

Gradual improvement in infrastructure — In 2023, the total size of China’s data center racks reached 8.1 million and the scale of computing power reached 230 EFLOPS. In particular, the scale of intelligent computing power has reached 70 EFLOPS, an increase of over 70 percent.

Steady growth in industrial scale — The total scale of China’s core AI industry has reached 500 billion yuan, and the number of related enterprises has exceeded 4,400. According to a report released by CCID Consulting, a market research firm affiliated with China Center for Information Industry Development (CCID), the market scale of China’s AI industry will reach 1.73 trillion yuan by 2035, accounting for 30.6 percent of the world’s total.

Continuous expansion of integrated applications — So far, large-scale AI models developed by China have shown tremendous potential in areas such as smart mining, drug research and development, meteorology, government services, finance, intelligent manufacturing, and railway management. The integrated application of the industrial internet in China has expanded to 49 major categories of the national economy, and generative AI has been widely applied in chatting robots, intelligent search, and text generation.

At the general cargo terminal of Rizhao Port in east China’s Shandong province, a diverse array of general cargo items came together before making their way to different parts of the world, including steel plates made in Handan, north China’s Hebei province, excavators from Zhuzhou, central China’s Hunan province, and drainage pipes from Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China’s Henan province.

In the past, the complex loading and unloading procedures for these items, which varied greatly in shape and size, resulted in low operational efficiency. Now, with an AI-enabled planning system, the port has boosted its overall operational efficiency by 10 percent and yard throughput by 20 percent.

Apart from assisting intelligent manufacturing, AI technology can also make typhoon forecasts, develop new drugs, identify faults, and formulate production plans. These remarkable breakthroughs are paving the way for an era of intelligence.

The application of AI technology in the transportation sector has enhanced operational efficiency and raised safety levels.

In Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province, buses have been connected to an intelligent traffic control system managed by the traffic police. When a bus approaches an intersection, the traffic signal will automatically switch to green, allowing the bus to have priority passage.

“Smart public transportation saves commuting time by 30.7 percent on average compared to regular transportation modes,” said Liu Gao, a project leader of Xiangjiang Smart Tech Innovation Center. So far, 75 routes in downtown Changsha have gone through intelligent transformation, Liu added.

AI technology has also made scientific research more efficient. Chinese software company Kingsoft has unveiled a one-stop office productivity platform powered by AI, which can analyze data as well as reading and recognizing Chinese characters, serving as a “well-rounded” digital employee.

While applied in experiments, AI technologies can significantly save the time needed for scientific research. For instance, Baidu AI Cloud and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have jointly developed an open-source platform for scientific data, which can accelerate the entire chain of chemical synthesis, ranging from molecular design and reaction design to condition generation and reaction testing. This platform can reduce the time required for designing potential functional molecules, such as drug molecules and their synthesis plans, from several months to just dozens of minutes.

In the face of the booming development of the AI industry, many experts and business leaders have highlighted the importance of accelerating AI-related sci-tech innovation and promoting high-quality development and high-level application of AI in order to foster new growth drivers.

Moving forward, China will continue to enhance AI infrastructure, expand AI applications, and advance key and core AI technologies to bring its AI industry onto a higher level.

Rizhao in E China improves greenway construction to bring greater sense of happiness to residents

By Li Rui, People’s Daily

Along the sunny coast of Rizhao city in east China’s Shandong province, bordering the Yellow Sea, there is a scenic greenway that stretches 28 kilometers long. Hugging the shoreline, it weaves through mountains, forests, and villages. To locals, it is not only a scenic route, but a route to happiness.

On a morning, Li Xiaoshu and her friends from a cycling club set off from a square in Donggang district of Rizhao, biking northward along the greenway, which is known as the Sunny Coast Greenway.

They stopped to admire the vast sea at the Wanpingkou scenic area and visited an ocean aesthetics museum on Taigong Island, marveling at the breathtaking scenery along the way.

Continuing onwards, they rode into a towering metasequoia forest. “We just arrived at the ‘forest oxygen bar,'” Li said, calling this her favorite spot – the Rizhao Seaside National Forest Park.

Over 300 tree species like metasequoias, black pines, and oriental oaks flourish in the park, covering 78 percent of its area. Besides, the park is also a habitat for more than 200 bird species, including azure-winged magpie.

Li’s destination was Wulian Mountain. After passing through the Liangcheng Estuary National Wetland Park, the cycling group switched to another greenway – the Mountain and Sea Scenery Greenway.

Relevant authorities have worked to interconnect the Sunny Coast Greenway with the Mountain and Sea Scenery Greenway into a 61.8-kilometer route, which is adorned with mountains, sea, rural guesthouses, and villages.

As a Rizhao native, Li recalled how different this greenway looked years ago. “The shoreline was dotted with shabby houses and aquaculture ponds. The vegetation wasn’t this lush, and there was no spot worth a stop,” she told People’s Daily.

Striking a balance between conservation and development, Rizhao has launched a coast enhancement project to restore its coastlines in recent years, and kicked off the development of the Sunny Coast Greenway.

According to Zhang Bo, an urban planner at Rizhao Planning and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd., no natural landscape was changed during the development of the Sunny Coast Greenway, which started five years ago, in attempt to reduce interference with nature to the absolute minimum and maximize protection of the natural environment.

Besides, ecologically vulnerable areas were prioritized for restoration and enhancement, with an aim to preserve the integrity of the marine ecosystem as much as possible, Zhang added.

Rizhao Xinghai Construction and Development Co., Ltd. also joined the development of the Sunny Coast Greenway. According to the company’s chairman Qin Xujian, over 10 expert meetings were organized to determine the materials to be used for an important section of the greenway as the construction began, and ceramic granular material was finally selected as it reduces vibration caused by cycling and well blends into the surrounding environment.

In the Taigong Island Park, the slopes on both sides of the greenway are covered by oyster shells. The entire greenway keeps natural undulation, while the intersections are designed with curved and user-friendly features that allow for barrier-free access for wheelchairs and strollers. A total of 27,000 trees and 280,000 shrubs have been planted along the route, expanding the green area by 490,000 square meters.

Zhang said that every aspect of the greenway was meticulously planned, from quality and safety to ecological conservation, and from the linkage of scenic spots to landscape design, which resulted in a vivid portrayal of harmonious coexistence between human and nature.

“It feels good to ride a bicycle on the greenway to my office, to go home, and to have fun. It gives me a sense of happiness and improves my living quality,” Li said.

The greenway not only brings lasting happiness to people’s lives but also paves a new path for the city’s green development. Authorities in Rizhao have introduced a series of cultural and tourism projects based on the Sunny Coast Greenway, which have gained increasing popularity. According to statistics, Rizhao received 53.33 million tourist visits last year, generating tourism revenue of 35.37 billion yuan ($4.97 billion).

The Sunny Coast Greenway, built according to world-class standards, has emerged as a prime location to hold hiking, cycling and other sporting events. In 2023, more than 90 provincial and higher-level competitions took place there, helping the city embark on a development path that leverages sports, culture and tourism sectors.

Digital technologies contribute to Great Wall conservation, studies

By Shi Fang, Shi Ziqiang, People’s Daily

Spanning 15 provinces, the Great Wall is the largest cultural heritage site in China. In recent years, regions across the country have vigorously leveraged digital technologies to advance the protection and studies of the Great Wall, making it accessible for virtual tours. With great care, this unique and precious treasure is being meticulously safeguarded.

At the Urban Big Data Application Research Center (UBDARC), Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, there are two computers showing the meteorological and vibration data at eight points along the Great Wall in real time.

“Monitoring the deformation and damage of the Great Wall enables timely detection and assessment of the extent of wall damage, providing strong support for protection efforts,” said Liu Fei, associate professor at the UBDARC. The monitoring data can also be used to develop preventive measures, Liu added.

Over the course of thousands of years, the Great Wall of China has been subjected to various factors such as natural erosion, human activities, and historical changes, resulting in significant damage to many sections.

Over the course of thousands of years, natural erosion, human activities and historical changes have resulted in significant damages to many sections of the Great Wall. Some parts are on the verge of collapse, while some have lost a significant portion of their ground structure or foundation.

To treat these damages, it is important to identify the causes. Over the past four years, Liu and his team have launched an environmental vibration disaster monitoring project for the Great Wall in Huairou district and Changping district of Beijing. They have also carried out a research-based restoration project along the Dazhuangke section of the Great Wall in Yanqing district, collecting digital information of the section.

Additionally, the team utilized drone-based oblique photography technology to capture high-resolution images along a 352-kilometer stretch of the Great Wall in Beijing. These images were used to create orthophotomaps and real scene three-dimensional models, forming a database of the damages in an approximately 100-kilometer section of the Great Wall.

By employing deep learning algorithms, the team has developed an intelligent model for identifying damages, which features an accuracy of over 80 percent.

“More and more technologies are applied to help the Great Wall ‘live longer’,” said Liu. According to him, his team is currently working to improve the database, and it is expected that by the end of this year, aerial monitoring and digital 3D modeling of the brick and stone sections of the Great Wall in Beijing will be completed.

The utilization of digital technologies strengthens the protection of the Great Wall, shifting the approach from reactive rescue efforts to proactive preventive measures. It has also created more possibilities for visitors to virtually experience the Great Wall through “cloud tourism.”

The Jinshanling Great Wall, located in Luanping county, Chengde, north China’s Hebei province, is a pilot Great Wall national cultural park. Since 2020, the Jinshanling Great Wall has been presenting its apricot blossom festival online, allowing netizens to appreciate the beauty of its sceneries.

The hashtag “Virtual Tour of Jinshanling” has attracted over 130 million views annually for four consecutive years, said Guo Zhongxing, director of the Jinshanling Great Wall cultural relics protection center.

A national research center for ancient mural and earth site conservation engineering technology has been established in northwest China’s Gansu province under the joint efforts of the Dunhuang Academy and other institutes.

This center has mastered a series of key technologies for the protection of earthen Great Wall and developed a mature set of protection theories and technical specifications, becoming an important technical support for the preservation of the Great Wall. Since 2015, Gansu province has undertaken and initiated a total of 12 research projects at the provincial level and above in this field.

A team led by professor Zhang Yukun from the School of Architecture at Tianjin University  initiated a project in late 2018 that involves the use of the latest technology as drones to collect “the most complete possible real-scene three-dimensional images of the Great Wall”.  During the four-year project, the team collected over 2 million real-scene images and established an three-dimensional database of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. .

In early 2023, the team organized an exhibition in Tianjin Museum showcasing the digital outcomes of their efforts through immersive multimedia displays, 3D printed objects, and historical scene restoration.

“The exhibition aimed to digitally showcase to the public the entire Great Wall in a realistic and immersive way,” said Li Zhe, a distinguished research fellow at the school of architecture, Tianjin University.

The resources, unique remains, and scenic views along the Tianjin section of the Great Wall were all showcased through dynamic surrounding imagery on five screens, accompanied by professional commentary, creating an immersive experience for the public as if they were “flying over” the Great Wall, Li explained.

China steadily enhances ability to ensure livelihood during development

By Ren Ping, Zhang Fan, People’s Daily

“The Chinese people’s aspiration for a better life is the goal we have been striving for, and the ultimate purpose of advancing reform and promoting development is to improve the livelihood of the people,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said. Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission..

Xi made the remarks while chairing a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia in Jinan, east China’s Shandong province on May 23.

The essence of modernization is the modernization of people. Chinese modernization is a cause of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. Since entering the new era, China has achieved two miracles – rapid economic growth and lasting social stability. Putting livelihood issues in an important position is exactly one of the significant reasons to this success.

The country has won the largest battle against poverty in human history and achieved moderate prosperity, the millennia-old dream of the Chinese nation. It has built the world’s largest networks of high-speed railways and expressways. Besides, it has built the largest education, social security, and healthcare systems in the world. The splendid development of China is exactly a perfect answer sheet to livelihood problems.

Livelihood progress is an important standard measuring economic and social development. Over 70 percent of China’s government expenditures went toward ensuring the people’s wellbeing. This year, the country has set aside 66.7 billion yuan (about $9.39 billion) for employment subsidies, 408.5 billion yuan for transfer payments for shared fiscal powers in education, and 76.5 billion yuan for subsidies for basic public health services.

Minzhucun community of Xiejiawan neighborhood, Jiulongpo district in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality was once troubled with poor housing conditions, outdated infrastructure, excessive sewage, and inadequate supporting facilities.

Today, this place has transformed into a vibrant community with a spacious community reception hall, a multifunctional service center, and a community canteen where delicious meals are served.

By addressing deficiencies in facilities, enhancing community functions, and improving the quality of living, old communities have become new homes for residents in the new era.

China is always working to address the needs of the people, from their basic necessities to reform and development, in an attempt to improve their wellbeing and create a better life for them. This fully embodies the people-centered philosophy followed by the country.

China has strengthened its efforts in renovating old urban residential communities and ensuring the supply of affordable housing, so as to allow more families to be able to have a decent and secure place to live in.

China has raised the thresholds for special additional deductions in personal income tax for taking care of children and the elderly, which benefits 66 million taxpayers. Besides, medicines covered by the medical-insurance system saved over 200 billion yuan for patients nationwide in 2023.

Ensuring and improving people’s livelihood helps build a better future.

In Xicheng village, Lujiang county, Hefei, east China’s Anhui province, villager Tao Youbao has installed household photovoltaic equipment on his rooftop, which he calls a “solar bank.” According to him, the “solar bank” generates electricity for his family, and the surplus can be sold to the power grid, which earns him a few thousand yuan per year.

As of 2023, China’s installed capacity of distributed photovoltaic power generated by households exceeded 115 million kilowatts, equivalent to the capacity of approximately five Three Gorges power stations. It is predicted that nearly 27.3 billion square meters of total roof areas covering more than 80 million rural households can be installed with photovoltaic power generation equipment.

The widespread adoption of household photovoltaics will not only contribute to rural vitalization, but also play a pivotal role in driving the green transformation of the energy sector.

China works to meet people’s aspirations for a better life, with an aim to provide them with more stable jobs, higher incomes, better education, and more reliable social security.

Regions and departments across China have been making sustained efforts and taking more measures to strive for greater achievements in improving people’s wellbeing. By focusing on the concerns of the people and addressing practical issues related to their livelihood, China will steadily enhance its ability to ensure livelihood during its development and continuously improve  people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.